5 Fun Things to Do in the Smoky Mountains for Outdoor Lovers

When you visit the Great Smoky Mountains, you’ll find plenty of fun things to do. Spend a day at Dollywood, go shopping around town, or try some delicious food. If you don’t want to be cooped up inside, you probably are an outdoor lover. There are plenty of fun things to do in the Smoky Mountains if you love being outside! Check out these 5 fun things to do in the Smoky Mountains for outdoor lovers:

1. Ziplining

Outdoor and adventure go hand in hand when it comes to ziplining. No matter what part of the Smokies you’re staying in, you’ll easily find a place to go ziplining! AdventureWorks is an aerial adventure park in the Smokies where you can zipline, walk across tightropes, and work your way through an obstacle course in the trees. CLIMB Works is another great ziplining company. You can choose to zipline through the trees and feel like birds flying, or you can dual zipline in front of mountain views, racing your family and friends to the bottom. CLIMB Works also has mountain biking if ziplining isn’t enough adventure for you!

2. Hiking

If you love being outside, you can’t skip out on hiking when you come to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park! The Smokies have over 800 miles of hiking trails, and there’s a perfect trail for any skill level. The Gatlinburg Trail is perfect for beginners, while any of the trails to Mt. LeConte are a challenge to the skilled hikers. There are trails with incredible views at the top, trails with breathtaking waterfalls at the end, and nature trails that allow you to enjoy the beauty of the Smokies.

3. Driving

There are a ton of roads you can enjoy a scenic drive on in the Smokies. The Roaring Fork Motor Trail takes you through the mountains for a beautiful drive. The Foothills Parkway is perfect for incredible views, as well as Newfound Gap. If seeing wildlife is at the top of your list, drive through the Cades Cove Loop. Want to put a spin on driving through the mountains? Rent a UTV or a Slingshot so you can feel the wind in your face and the warmth from the sun while enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery.

4. Rafting

White water rafting at Smoky Mountain Outdoors is a great outdoor activity for everyone! Choose from a lower river trip, an upper river trip, or an extreme upper river trip. You’ll have a great adventure no matter which trip you choose, paddling over class 3 and 4 rapids and getting splashed along the way. People of all ages will definitely love rafting in the Smoky Mountains. Smoky Mountain Outdoors ensures you have a blast on the river!

5. Tubing

Take it easy while still spending time outside when you go tubing on the river! Outposts such as River Romp provide you with inner tubes you can leisurely ride down the river for all-day fun. This is one of the most fun things to do in the Smoky Mountains, especially for outdoor lovers since you get to spend time outside and cool off in the chilly mountain water.

Any outdoor lover will enjoy these things to do in the Smoky Mountains. Once you spend your day outside, you want to go back to a comfortable place to stay and relax. Check out our available cabins in the Smoky Mountains to start planning your trip today!